Qld graziers urged to store their own molasses

Queensland graziers are currently experiencing a critical shortage of molasses which is used to feed cattle as an emergency supplement during drought.

But getting the sticky by-product from the mills to remote parts of the state is logistically difficult and the industry says it's not equipped to move large amounts of molasses to remote properties at short notice.

Jacqueline Curley is a grazier at Gypsy Plains near Mt Isa in north western Queensland and she is desperate for molasses to keep her cattle alive.

"There's currently not enough infrastructure in the private sector to be able to take up the slack and deliver the product we need."

Ms Curley is calling on the government to buy molasses and provide storage for farmers during the current drought situation.

An early end to the crushing season has led to fears that supply of the potentially life-saving supplement might dry up altogether as milling companies fulfil their export obligations.

However Dominic Nolan, from the Australian Sugar Milling Council, says domestic buyers are always given first option on what has become an increasingly valuable part of the sugar production chain.

Mr Nolan says the council doesn't have the infrastructure to provide molasses to farmers on demand and graziers should purchase and store their own stocks of molasses.

"Many cattle producers have their own on-farm storage to make sure they are geared up for drier conditions and that is the best way to make sure that access to molasses is there when it's required," he said.